Open Casting Call for Festival-Backed Short Film

The Asian American Arts Alliance, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

The Asian American Arts Alliance, Inc. is hosting an open casting call in Los Angeles for a short film project titled How to Ride a Bike, directed by Bao Nguyen.

Casting includes both SAG-Aftra and non-union talent, with callbacks scheduled for July 21st/22nd and fittings leading into August shoot. Locations are Los Angeles, with travel possible, and the project features a Vietnamese family story in Southern California.

Qualifications

• No acting experience necessary – open to new talent.

Job description

Open Casting Call for Festival-Backed Short Film

In Search Of

Deadline

Rolling

Posted

Jul 02, 2026

In Search Of Casting is hosting an open call for a number of roles in a short film project shooting in LA.

In Search Of Casting is currently casting multiple roles for a short film “How to Ride a Bike” directed by Bao Nguyen (PGA and Critics Choice Award-winning The Greatest Night in Pop (Netflix), the Emmy-nominated Be Water (ESPN), and Emmy-recognized investigation The Stringer (Netflix)) in collaboration with Cate Blanchett’s Displacement Film Fund (DFF), shooting in Los Angeles, California, USA in August 2026.

STORYLINE

A Vietnamese refugee raising his son alone in Southern California has never learned to ride a bicycle. When eight-year-old Tommy begs him to teach him, Linh tries - and fails. Rather than admit the truth, he secretly enrolls in an adult cycling class, where he finds himself among strangers whose lives, like his, were shaped by what they never got the chance to learn. A film about the quiet things displacement takes, and a father and son learning to ride together.

PROJECT DETAILS

SAG-Aftra; But can consider Union and Non-Union talent
Director: Bao Nguyen
Casting Direction: Nafisa Kaptownwala of In Search Of
Producers: Sally Sujin Oh
Location: Los Angeles (local or able to travel themselves)

Dates: July 21st/22nd: Callbacks
w/o Aug 24th (TBD): Fittings
w/o Aug 24th: Rehearsals
Aug 29th, 30th: Shoot

Rate: SAG-Aftra Scale

Tommy (Vietnamese male - 7 years old)

A bright, energetic, and observant eight-year-old growing up in Southern California. He is desperate to learn how to ride a bicycle and begs his single father, Linh—a hardworking Vietnamese refugee to teach him, initially unaware of his dad’s secret inability to ride.

Instructor (Any ethnicity male - 30s-60s)

Gentle and judgement free instructor of an adult bicycle riding class. Teaching adults how to ride a bicycle who never had a chance to learn.

Tall Man (White male - 50’s)

Determined and supportive tall man who is learning to ride a bike in an adult cycling class. Slightly frustrated at his own pace and inability.

Celina (Latina or Black female - 50s)

A sweet widow who is learning to ride a bike in an adult cycling class. She feels helpless after the passing of her husband because he was her mode of transportation.

Kevin (Any ethnicity male - 8 years old)

Skilled and slightly arrogant bike rider who likes to show off in front of his classmates at school.

Requirements

No acting experience necessary – open to new talent.

In Search Of Casting is hosting an open call for a number of roles in a short film project shooting in LA.

In Search Of Casting is currently casting multiple roles for a short film “How to Ride a Bike” directed by Bao Nguyen (PGA and Critics Choice Award-winning The Greatest Night in Pop (Netflix), the Emmy-nominated Be Water (ESPN), and Emmy-recognized investigation The Stringer (Netflix)) in collaboration with Cate Blanchett’s Displacement Film Fund (DFF), shooting in Los Angeles, California, USA in August 2026.

STORYLINE

A Vietnamese refugee raising his son alone in Southern California has never learned to ride a bicycle. When eight-year-old Tommy begs him to teach him, Linh tries - and fails. Rather than admit the truth, he secretly enrolls in an adult cycling class, where he finds himself among strangers whose lives, like his, were shaped by what they never got the chance to learn. A film about the quiet things displacement takes, and a father and son learning to ride together.

PROJECT DETAILS

SAG-Aftra; But can consider Union and Non-Union talent
Director: Bao Nguyen
Casting Direction: Nafisa Kaptownwala of In Search Of
Producers: Sally Sujin Oh
Location: Los Angeles (local or able to travel themselves)

Dates: July 21st/22nd: Callbacks
w/o Aug 24th (TBD): Fittings
w/o Aug 24th: Rehearsals
Aug 29th, 30th: Shoot

Rate: SAG-Aftra Scale

Tommy (Vietnamese male - 7 years old)

A bright, energetic, and observant eight-year-old growing up in Southern California. He is desperate to learn how to ride a bicycle and begs his single father, Linh—a hardworking Vietnamese refugee to teach him, initially unaware of his dad’s secret inability to ride.

Instructor (Any ethnicity male - 30s-60s)

Gentle and judgement free instructor of an adult bicycle riding class. Teaching adults how to ride a bicycle who never had a chance to learn.

Tall Man (White male - 50’s)

Determined and supportive tall man who is learning to ride a bike in an adult cycling class. Slightly frustrated at his own pace and inability.

Celina (Latina or Black female - 50s)

A sweet widow who is learning to ride a bike in an adult cycling class. She feels helpless after the passing of her husband because he was her mode of transportation.

Kevin (Any ethnicity male - 8 years old)

Skilled and slightly arrogant bike rider who likes to show off in front of his classmates at school.

Requirements

No acting experience necessary – open to new talent.